At the palace gate, the Vermillion Bird Guard deputy commander shouted: “Who goes there!”

The sedan chair stopped, and several affected coughs came from inside, followed by a weak voice saying: “Rong Pu of the Chief Minister’s mansion.”

An identification plaque was passed out. A soldier took it and handed it to the deputy commander, who glanced at it, raised an eyebrow, and softened his tone slightly: “So it’s Scholar Rong. Perfect timing—when the Chief Minister returned home earlier, he instructed me that if I encountered the Scholar, I should ask him to return home promptly. Tonight the rain is heavy and wind cold, Scholar should not linger outside.”

His tone was polite, but his sharp eyes remained fixed on the sedan chair.

The person inside the sedan chair was silent for a moment before saying weakly: “Very well.”

The sedan chair then turned around.

The deputy commander breathed a sigh of relief.

But just as the sedan chair turned, suddenly a figure leaped out from inside, kicked backward at the sedan chair body without looking back. The enormous sedan chair was sent flying by his kick, whistling through the air toward the deputy commander.

The deputy commander had been watching the people, his eyes on those carrying the sedan chair. He hadn’t expected the people to stay put while the sedan chair came crashing toward him. Instinctively, he stepped aside.

He had originally led his men to block the palace gate. Now with the sedan chair turning around, those blocking the gate all unconsciously relaxed. Seeing the sedan chair suddenly crash toward them, they followed the deputy commander’s example, scattering on horseback to both sides.

The wind was fierce as the sedan chair crashed thunderously into the palace gate.

The deputy commander looked back, catching a glimpse of bright light flashing within the sedan chair from the corner of his eye.

A great sense of alarm arose in his heart. Just as he was about to shout for people to stop it, the next moment came a thunderous explosion, crimson flashing, black smoke billowing skyward.

The sedan chair exploded at the palace gate!

The sedan chair had actually contained gunpowder hidden inside!

There was actually someone in this world who dared to silently blow up the palace gate!

The deputy commander was also completely stunned by the explosion, watching helplessly as a large hole was blasted in the palace gate, his head buzzing. But what made his brain explode even more was still to come—the person who had leaped from the sedan chair and kicked it away shouted loudly: “I am Rong Pu of the Chief Minister’s mansion! I hereby accuse the Vermillion Bird Guard deputy commander of treasonous rebellion, destroying the palace gate!”

The deputy commander was both angry and amused, about to curse, when he heard a response from behind the palace gate like metal striking stone: “Received!”

As the smoke cleared, through the large hole in the palace gate appeared Tie Ci’s snow-white face.

In mid-air, Murong Yi turned around and landed on the sedan chair pole that remained after half the sedan chair was destroyed, leaving only a diagonal beam pointing skyward. The wide white robe on his body was blown away by the wind, floating leisurely into the distance, while he looked back from his high perch.

Inside and outside the hole, their gazes met.

Across what seemed close but was actually far, past what should have been impregnable to ten thousand soldiers, past what should have taken him a lifetime to approach even one step closer—the Great Qian palace gate.

Seeing her, the master of the deep palace.

Tie Ci’s gaze quickly swept over him, confirming what she wanted to confirm, then turned away, falling on the Vermillion Bird Camp deputy commander as she said coldly: “The Vermillion Bird Guard deputy commander plotted rebellion and disorder, destroying the palace gate. With both human and material evidence present, I order his arrest along with his accomplices!”

Behind her, the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards had already seized advantageous positions, quickly isolating and capturing the still-dazed deputy commander and the squad of soldiers he had brought.

Only this group had been blocking Murong Yi’s path earlier. The others were either still on the high city towers or still behind them. Murong Yi’s action of kicking out the sedan chair and blowing up the palace gate was extremely fast. People slightly farther away in the darkness couldn’t see clearly. Hearing the Crown Princess personally say “treasonous rebellion,” they instinctively dared not move.

And this batch of Vermillion Bird Guards who clearly saw Murong Yi blow up the palace gate never imagined such a brazen operation of crying “stop thief” while being the thief himself. They never expected the Crown Princess to cooperate so seamlessly with this scoundrel—one daring to accuse, one daring to accept. Before they could react, they were captured.

The Crown Princess’s Nine Guards had wandered outside for so long they’d picked up underworld habits. After capturing people, they smoothly pulled out stinking sweat rags and stuffed everyone’s mouths.

By the time the palace gate guards and White Marsh Guards following behind caught up, this group had already been tied up in a pile.

Tie Ci said: “Send them all to the Court of Judicial Review. Order the Court Minister to guard them well. If even one person is leniently treated, I’ll hold him accountable with his own life and property! After this matter is concluded, we’ll interrogate them thoroughly.”

Whether they were interrogated or not, and what came out of it, none of this batch of Vermillion Bird Guards could expect to get out until this incident was settled.

The Vermillion Bird Guard deputy commander made muffled protests through his gag as the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards dragged him away directly.

The other Vermillion Bird Guards wanted to rescue him, but Tie Ci said: “Anyone who moves without authorization will be charged with the same crime of treason!”

Immediately no one dared move.

The White Marsh Guards who had rushed down from the city wall retreated fastest.

Though both inner and outer palace guards belonged to the Xiao family faction, they ultimately weren’t direct lineage. Each leader had their own calculations, some had already been infiltrated by the imperial clan, and there were conflicts among them. The White Marsh Guards naturally wouldn’t stand up for the Vermillion Bird Guards at this moment.

Hoofbeats sounded urgently as the Blood Cavalry and the remaining four teams of Nine Guards stationed outside the imperial city arrived. There was also a team of gray-clothed men who looked completely unremarkable, but everyone whose gaze met theirs instinctively shuddered all over.

Too cold and indifferent, yet stern, making people think of demons wielding blades in endless hell.

Tie Ci pointed at the city gate: “The Vermillion Bird Guards protecting the imperial city are no longer trustworthy. The palace gate concerns the safety of the imperial palace and cannot be taken lightly. Commander Xu, I’m temporarily entrusting this to you. Remember—no external armies may enter, no internal guards may leave.”

Commander Xu responded expressionlessly. The White Marsh Guard commander watched in stunned amazement, wanting to say this was unreasonable—how could such an important place as the imperial city be casually taken over by just any team? But when that gray-clothed commander turned his cold gaze over, his back immediately broke out in goosebumps.

For a moment he felt that if he said one word of impropriety, the next moment the other party could cut off his head!

The White Marsh Guards dared not speak, and with their leader captured, none of the Vermillion Bird Guards dared step forward. Gray-clothed soldiers flowed in like water—some went up to guard the city, others herded the Vermillion Bird Guards into corners like chickens.

The White Marsh Guard commander had no choice but to retreat into the palace. Before leaving, looking at those gray-clothed people, he felt something was strange no matter how he looked at them. With all that killing aura, they didn’t seem like the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards.

He couldn’t help quietly asking a gray-clothed soldier: “May I ask which army unit you brothers belong to?”

The other replied coldly: “Scorpion Camp.”

White Marsh Guard: “???”

Wasn’t Scorpion Camp in Yong Ping!

How could Scorpion Camp enter the capital? How did they get in? When did they enter? How did he not know?

The White Marsh Guard commander looked back in confusion. In the pitch-black doorway, Tie Ci’s straight-backed figure was giving orders.

He vaguely understood something, endless cold rising from his chest. Not daring to think further, he turned and headed back.

He decided that from now on, he would only properly guard the palace, fulfill his duties, not walk one extra step or do one extra thing.

At the palace gate, Dan Shuang led over a red horse—Tie Ci’s mount, formally named Jiang Bing.

Tie Ci leaped onto the horse: “Commander, arrange for part of the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards to enter the palace and protect Father Emperor. You personally take people to the He mansion and Duan mansion, protect both chief examiners—whoever comes cannot take them away! Wait for further news.”

“Yes!”

“Colonel Liu, you go to the Tribute Academy. If extreme incidents of scholars storming the academy occur, you’re responsible for calming the situation and controlling it. Don’t let anyone fish in troubled waters. Remember—no rough treatment of any scholars.”

Colonel Liu, leader of the three hundred Blood Cavalry, accepted the order.

Murong Yi, who had been waiting for Tie Ci to question him, smiled slightly.

Look how smart Eighteen was.

Before he had even broken in, she had already rushed out. Before he said anything, she had already guessed what happened and made arrangements at maximum speed.

But his smile also carried slight worry.

Someone born to be crown prince—unable to let go of the realm, the people, and her own responsibilities. When would she be willing to obediently be his wife?

The road was long and arduous, long and arduous.

Only now did Tie Ci turn to look at him, her gaze calm as she nodded slightly, as if facing an old friend of many years: “What’s the specific situation?”

Everyone naturally looked at Murong Yi, thinking this was some academy classmate of Tie Ci’s.

Only Murong Yi could see that Tie Ci’s face was stretched a bit tight.

But this wasn’t the time for flirtation. He explained the situation in a few words. Tie Ci nodded, whispered a few instructions to Dan Shuang, who then returned to the palace. Tie Ci ordered the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards to bring a horse for Murong Yi, turned her own horse’s head, and said: “Let’s go.”

“Where is Your Highness going?”

“First to the Capital Prefecture, then to the Court of Judicial Review.”

Time waited for no one. Tie Ci lifted the reins.

Suddenly there was weight behind her, a familiar woody fragrance approaching. Tie Ci heard the sound of her subordinates gasping.

She didn’t look back, her spine rigid: “Get down.”

Murong Yi behind her spoke in a surprisingly serious tone: “I won’t.”

“Get down.”

“I still have important details to report to Your Highness. It’s just that a word or two can’t explain it all. If I ride a horse to speak you won’t hear, and stopping to talk wastes too much time, so I had to act expeditiously.”

Tie Ci: …That’s not how you use “act expeditiously.”

Murong Yi poked her from behind: “Don’t delay, time waits for no one.”

Tie Ci took a breath, very much wanting to kick him off, but time truly waited for no one. If she was even a moment slower, Shen Mi and the others might suffer another moment of torment. She had no choice but to stay silent and raise her whip.

The whip cracked crisply in the air, and Jiang Bing shot out like an arrow.

She gave no warning and the horse galloped extremely fast. Murong Yi’s body swayed backward, but the scoundrel forcefully hugged Tie Ci’s waist, pulling her backward too until she nearly fell into his embrace.

Tie Ci understood this wretch’s sinister intentions were everywhere, so she had to slow down slightly.

The group of horses galloped through the midnight curfewed streets. Blood Cavalry on the left and right cleared the way. Night patrol soldiers hadn’t had time to question them before being driven far away by the Blood Cavalry—one showing credentials, another lashing with whips.

Murong Yi tightly held Tie Ci’s waist. Their bodies constantly made slight contact as the horses rose and fell. Faint dragon’s saliva fragrance and light woody scent intertwined and permeated each other. Wind separated their long hair then tangled it again like two fluttering black banners.

He rested his chin on her shoulder and let out a satisfied sigh.

He had thought that after that blade on Wu Se Plain, with identities exposed and a chasm formed, crossing mountain valleys again would require deep years and exhausting difficulties.

Yet unexpectedly heaven assisted, providing so quickly an opportunity to serve her and bridge their differences.

However, it was still Eighteen being soft-hearted and considering the big picture, willing to give him such a chance.

Just as he said—she couldn’t bear to part with him!

The midnight spring breeze was slightly cool but refreshing. The breathing behind her was light and joyful, as if countless small bubbles floated in the air.

Tie Ci didn’t look back, yet somehow could feel the lightness of all things around her.

Listening to his breathing, even heaven and earth seemed peaceful.

After Wu Se Plain, that faint irritation and hidden melancholy all seemed to be blown away by the wind through the post-rain empty streets at this moment, melted by the soft, smiling sighs of the person behind her.

Their bodies constantly brushed lightly against each other. Her expression remained calm, but with each light touch, her heart seemed to soften an inch.

When he wasn’t there, she didn’t seem to feel lonely, but when he was there, all things generated clear energy, clouds and rainbows rose in the sky, and everything she looked upon was complete.

Where he was, there her heart found peace.

Even though what awaited ahead was violent storms, rain slanting and clouds raging.

In such tranquil state of mind, she took the initiative to ask him: “What about the matter you said you needed to report?”

“I forgot.”

“…”

“Because you’re too fragrant.”

Tie Ci ignored his flirtation: “You said you arranged for someone to protect Shen Mi and the others? Who is it?”

“Oh, it’s the prairie dog… oh no, Gu Xiaoxiao.”

“Gu Xiaoxiao?” Tie Ci was surprised. Could her socially anxious male best friend handle this?

“Right, isn’t he afraid of people? He should be thrown into crowds to struggle and fight, experience several attacks from crowds of people, die and come back to life, live and die again, then this condition will be cured.”

Tie Ci: “…”

No, my previous sense of peace must have been an illusion.

This type of scoundrel doesn’t deserve to sit behind me. He should be thrown off the horse to die and come back to life, live and die again.

…

Gu Xiaoxiao was indeed dying and coming back to life, living and dying again.

He was sleeping peacefully at midnight when he inexplicably received a message by dagger. The cold, menacing dagger was stuck right above his head, only an inch from his skull, immediately scaring half his soul away.

When he saw the hastily written note tied to the dagger, his first reaction was that it must be a prank.

Until he saw the Qin De seal stamped at the end of the note.

He naturally recognized the Crown Princess’s private seal, but he’d never seen the Crown Princess’s private seal stamped on a dirty piece of paper.

The Crown Princess didn’t seem like someone who acted so unreliably.

But it was indeed this private seal that made him realize the seriousness of the situation. He quickly got up, took calling cards from his mansion, and was just about to call for a horse carriage when a black-clothed person leaped down, picked him up on his back and ran.

Flying over eaves and walls the whole way, this human airplane made Gu Xiaoxiao dizzy and disoriented while the close contact with a stranger nearly killed him. From beginning to end his back muscles were rigid, and when put down he nearly went into convulsions.

But knowing time was urgent, he struggled to knock on the Capital Prefecture’s door. The calling card was sent up, but before long he was politely escorted out, told that all the officials were not in tonight.

The Capital Prefecture Governor was a ceremonial position, usually filled by princes. Previously it had been led by Prince Zhao, but he didn’t handle actual affairs. After the incident of changing the crown prince last time, Prince Zhao was stripped of even this ceremonial position. Daily management of the Capital Prefecture was handled by the Capital Prefecture Deputy Governor, with judges and other officials under him. To say they were all absent was impossible, but since they said they wouldn’t see him, Gu Xiaoxiao, just the son of a Ministry of Personnel Minister, really couldn’t expose the lie.

Gu Xiaoxiao took a deep breath at the door and presented his calling card again, saying: “Please report once more. I have matters regarding this spring’s Capital Prefecture application for increased subsidies for night patrol staff below the Six Departments and various Capital Prefecture warehouse inspection matters to discuss in detail with the Governor.”

The gatekeeper went to report again. This time they invited him in. After all, the Ministry of Personnel controlled everyone’s purse strings and watched everyone’s purse strings. If the Capital Prefecture wanted to give employees raises and didn’t want to be nitpicked by Ministry of Personnel clerks during annual routine warehouse inspections, they couldn’t help but give face to the Minister’s son.

The Capital Prefecture Deputy Governor was indeed there. Upon meeting, he didn’t mention the previous lie about being absent, chatted amiably with Gu Xiaoxiao with warm words, but only discussed asking the Ministry of Personnel for money, requesting Gu Xiaoxiao to put in good words with the Minister. But he deflected Gu Xiaoxiao’s inquiries several times. After talking for a long time, Gu Xiaoxiao didn’t even know whether the people were actually in the Capital Prefecture or what the current situation was. He could only infer from the fact that the Capital Prefecture was still brightly lit after nightfall with countless people walking back and forth that the people should be in the great prison, undergoing overnight interrogation. Hearing the sounds of those people moving about, Gu Xiaoxiao became increasingly anxious.

The Capital Prefecture Deputy Governor across from him was still talking endlessly, mouth opening and closing with nonsense. Gu Xiaoxiao endured the spittle spraying on his face, slid his sleeve across the table, pressing large denomination banknotes under his sleeve, and said softly: “Uncle, your nephew has several close friends who I heard got into trouble tonight and were imprisoned in the Capital Prefecture jail. Father and nephew are quite worried. Please be accommodating, Uncle, and let nephew see them.”

The Deputy Governor stopped his chattering mouth, leisurely took a sip of tea, and leaned close to Gu Xiaoxiao.

Gu Xiaoxiao instinctively wanted to lean back, but forced himself to resist and lean forward instead, smelling the bad breath from the other’s mouth caused by staying up late.

He suppressed his nausea and put on a pleading expression.

The Deputy Governor glanced at the banknotes and smiled: “Worthy nephew, normally speaking, this small request of yours, considering the Minister’s face, would be hard to refuse. It’s just that the serious criminals brought in tonight, according to Great Qian law…”

Before he could finish, Gu Xiaoxiao’s fingers moved nimbly, and another large denomination banknote appeared under his sleeve.

But the Deputy Governor laughed, pushed the banknotes back with two fingers, and shook his head: “If it were any other day, when worthy nephew came to ask, I would have let you see them. But today this prefecture has received strict orders—no matter who comes, they cannot enter this prison…”

But Gu Xiaoxiao didn’t let him push the banknotes back. His elbow pressed against the Deputy Governor’s elbow, his cheek slightly tightened, and under his sleeve, something else appeared.

The Deputy Governor thought more banknotes had been added, his smile deepened with some contemptuous meaning, and he pushed back even harder.

It didn’t budge. He raised an eyebrow, looking at Gu Xiaoxiao whose face was flushed red as if being tortured but still persisting in pressing his elbow, just about to say something mocking when he heard Gu Xiaoxiao say: “Please take another look?”

The Deputy Governor looked down and saw that what was on top wasn’t a banknote at all.

It was a very ordinary piece of paper, even somewhat torn, with several lines of hasty writing, but the final seal made his pupils contract.

Qin De Seal!

“The Crown Princess’s handwritten order,” Gu Xiaoxiao said softly. “Ordering me to visit the prison on her behalf, and instructing the Capital Prefecture not to use private torture.”

The Deputy Governor looked at Gu Xiaoxiao in shock.

Everything had proceeded at maximum speed. The people had only been sent to the Capital Prefecture not long ago, and all those present at the time had been trapped. How did the Crown Princess know?

Even if she knew, calculating the time to report to the Crown Princess and then rush over, there wasn’t enough time!

Gu Xiaoxiao’s voice grew softer: “Governor, are you going to defy the Crown Princess’s imperial order?”